ANKER, ALBERT: "Bildnis der Söhne Chrétien". Lot n° 47

ANKER, ALBERT (1831 Ins 1910) : "Portrait of the Sons of Chrétien"; oil on canvas; 90x64 cm; sig. u. dat. 1880 u.l. Provenance: private property, France; art trade, Paris (1989); private property, Switzerland. Exhibition: Albert Anker, Fondation Pierre Gianadda, Martigny, 19 December 2003 - 23 May 2004, no. 56 (illustrated in the exhibition catalog p. 154). Literature: Sandor Kuthy/Therese Bhattacharya-Stettler, Albert Anker. Werkkatalog der Gemälde und Ölstudien, Basel/Bern 1995, p. 149, no. 271 (with illustration). Albert Anker mentioned on April 18, 1880 in his Livre de vente (sales booklet): "De M. Chrétien pour les portraits de ses deux garçons 800 (Fr.)". In addition to portraits of his rural village community, Albert Anker also created high-quality commissioned works for the wealthy bourgeoisie. The present portrait of the two Chrétien brothers was probably painted during Anker's time in Paris. The Bernese painter captured the two smartly dressed adolescents against a dark background. Only their white shirts, the red neckerchiefs and the delicate, distinguished pallor of their skin stand out pointedly from the darkness. While the older brother turns directly to the viewer in brash self-confidence and at the same time uses his brother's shoulder as a support as a matter of course, the younger of the two smiles slightly timidly and dreamily into nowhere. In his hand he holds a slider cap, which he probably wore just before the portrait session. GGG Provenance: Private property, France; Art market, Paris (1989); Private property, Switzerland. Exhibition: Albert Anker, Fondation Pierre Gianadda, Martigny, December 19, 2003 - May 23, 2004, No. 56 (illustrated in the exhibition catalog p. 154). Literature: Sandor Kuthy/Therese Bhattacharya-Stettler, Albert Anker. Werkkatalog der Gemälde und Ölstudien, Basel/Bern 1995, p. 149, No. 271 (illustrated). On April 18, 1880, Albert Anker mentioned in his Livre de vente (sales booklet): "De M. Chrétien pour les portraits de ses deux garçons 800 (Fr.)". Besides the portraits of his country village community, Albert Anker also created commissioned works of high-quality for the wealthy bourgeoisie. The present portrait of the two Chrétien brothers was most likely painted during Anker's stay in Paris. The artist captured the two neatly dressed adolescents in front of a dark background. Solely their white chemises, the red cravats and the fine, noble pallor of their skin stand out against the darkness. While the older brother turns directly to the viewer in bold self-confidence and at the same time uses his brother's shoulder naturally as a support, the younger of the two smiles slightly timidly and dreamily into nowhere. In his hand, he holds a slider cap that he was probably still wearing shortly before the portrait session.